The temple of Hôryûji is the most
venerable monument of Buddhist tradition in Japan. It is nothing short
of a miracle that this ancient temple and its many treasures have survived
intact since the seventh century. The pillars you see here are actually
about twelve hundred years old, making Hôryûji the oldest wooden
building in the world. Historically, Hôryûji's significance
is immense, as the only complete temple to survive from the sixth and seventh
centuries, those pivotal years when Buddhism first came to Japan. Adding
still more to Hôryûji’s fame is its close association with
Prince Shôtoku, the man most responsible for firmly implanting Buddhism
into Japanese soil.